Thinking

about having
a
baby?

PROACTIVE AND PROVEN

Promotes optimum sperm quality
Simple steps to improve your
reproductive health…

If you’re considering having a baby, you may have begun

to gather information on issues like childbirth, parenting and,
especially, prenatal health care. Most couples are well aware of
the importance of prenatal health care to a successful pregnan-
cy and a healthy baby. But, even prior to pregnancy, there are
healthy lifestyle changes you and your partner can make to
improve your overall health, as well as your likelihood of con-
ceiving. These include eating a healthy diet, regular exercise,
and reducing stress, among others.

And, while pregnancy and fertility issues have traditionally

been the woman’s domain, the man’s role in achieving preg-
nancy is just as important as that of the woman. Though many
men are reluctant to discuss the issues surrounding conception,
they can still take action, discreetly, to improve their reproduc-
tive health and support their partners’ efforts. Unfortunately,
the most commonly advocated measures, such as avoiding hot
baths and hot tubs, wearing boxer shorts, and taking antioxi-
dants (vitamins C and E) may not be of help to you. One alter-
native is proXeed™, a nutritional supplement that supports male
reproductive health with ingredients clinically proven to pro-
mote optimum sperm quality.

proXeed™ (pronounced prox´ - ēde) is a simple, safe, and effective

way to support male reproductive health and sperm quality by
providing the nutrients needed for developing sperm. And
proXeed™ can be ordered at your convenience, in the privacy of
your own home (see last page for details).

If you’re thinking about having a baby, you may have a lot of

concerns. Sperm quality doesn’t have to be one of them.
 Conceiving isn’t always as easy The following charts
indicate the ability of
as it seems. the ingredients in proXeedTM
to optimize sperm quality—
as demonstrated in
Conception is a complex process, and the time it takes to clinical trials.
conceive varies widely from couple to couple. But if you’ve
been unsuccessful in your efforts to conceive, you’re probably
on an emotional rollercoaster, alternating between hope and
disappointment, enthusiasm and frustration.

Like conception itself, the evaluation of conception difficulties

is a complex process, as well. Gone are the days when doctors
automatically assumed that the problem was entirely due to the
woman. Although men are often hesitant to seek help for
reproductive health issues, we now know that 40% of concep-
tion problems can be attributed to male factors, with another
20% due to a combination of factors from both partners. SPERM COUNT
So, for the best possible chances of conception, both partners Count refers to the
should take action to enhance their efforts to achieve preg- number of sperm pre-
nancy. Even couples with no apparent health problems can sent in the fluid that
take steps to improve their likelihood of conception. is ejaculated (semen).

The purpose of this brochure is to discuss male reproductive

health, and to give you in-depth information about proXeed™.
You’ll also find the names of some national organizations that
you can contact for more information on conception and
related topics.

We at sigma-tau Consumer Products have compiled this

brochure with the hope that it will not only provide you with
helpful information, but a little peace of mind as well.

CONCENTRATION
This is the number of
sperm cells measured in
a milliliter of semen.

Promotes optimum sperm quality

Understanding fertility.

Fertility is far from an all-or-nothing phenomenon. There are

many levels of fertility and couples may experience various
degrees of it over time. Even couples who have conceived before
may experience difficulty conceiving.

Between 20 to 30% of all couples, at least once in their lives,

experience what is known as subfertility. Subfertile couples are
healthy couples who take longer than expected to conceive;
studies show that sperm quality may be a factor for as many as
40% of these couples.

Whether you fall into the subfertile category or not, there are
steps you can take to maximize your odds of conceiving.
But where do you start?

Evaluation and treatments used to begin and end with costly

and invasive procedures for women. But research has shown
that, at least half of the time couples have difficulty conceiving,
a male component is involved. With that level of probability,
and the relative ease of evaluation of men, it makes sense to
begin with the male. Even if the man’s fertility is well within
the normal range, a nutritional supplement may still prove use-
ful in optimizing his reproductive health. The man’s efforts to
obtain optimal health, combined with any steps undertaken by
his partner, may further increase a couple’s odds of achieving
pregnancy.
 Sperm quality: what is normal?

There are five main factors that contribute to sperm quality, a

major component of male reproductive health. A weakness in
any of these areas can affect the chances of conception. The
five factors are:

Sperm Count: Sperm count refers to the number of sperm in the

fluid that is ejaculated (semen). There are over 40 million sperm
in a normal ejaculate.

Concentration: Concentration is a measure of the number of

sperm cells in a milliliter of semen. Normal concentration is at
least 20 million sperm cells per milliliter of semen.

Motility: Sperm motility is simply a term for the sperm’s ability

to move in an active fashion: in other words, are the sperm SPERM MOTILITY
“strong swimmers?” In healthy sperm, typically more than 50% Motility refers to
are active with over 25% moving forcefully in one direction. the movement of
According to experts, the sperm’s ability to move in a strong sperm cells or,
manner is what enables it to fertilize the egg by traveling up the in other words,
cervical canal, into the uterus and the fallopian tubes and, final- their “swimming”
ly, penetrating the egg. ability.
Speed: There are some sperm that are known to move more
rapidly than others. These are referred to as having “rapid linear
progression,” which usually applies to more than 25% of sperm
in a normal healthy male. It is thought that these are the sperm
with the best chance of successfully fertilizing an egg.

Morphology: (Shape & Size): The morphology, or shape and size of

the sperm is also an important factor to be considered. A healthy
sperm cell will have a shape similar to a tadpole. The sperm’s oval
head contains the genetic material from the male that enters the
egg and joins the genetic material from the female’s egg to form
an embryo. The center gives the sperm its energy to move for- SPEED
ward, and the tail propels the sperm forward. Sperm take 2.5 This refers to how
months to develop into this mature shape and size. Healthy quickly the sperm
semen should exhibit normal morphology for at least 30% move in a linear
of sperm present. fashion.

Promotes optimum sperm quality

The ingredients in proXeed™ have been shown in clinical studies
to optimize sperm quality by improving most of these factors.

Additionally, if you have had trouble conceiving, your doctor

will probably suggest a sperm function evaluation, most often
in the form of a semen analysis. Many men experience feelings
of anxiety at the prospect of having to produce a semen sample.
Most doctors, however, are sensitive to the stress of the situa-
tion, and may suggest ways to make a man feel more comfort-
able with the process.

What are your options?

Any man who is trying to conceive should work to attain the

best possible level of reproductive health. Reducing caffeine and
alcohol intake, exercising, and reducing stress may help.
Another approach may be the optimization of sperm quality, a
key factor in the process of conception. proXeed™ is clinically
proven to provide the nutritional support developing sperm
require for optimum sperm quality.
 Take charge of your future with proXeed™

proXeed™ is a nutritional supplement which contributes to a

man’s overall reproductive health when trying to conceive.
proXeed™ contains vital ingredients which have been clini-
cally proven to provide developing sperm with the nutrition-
al support they require for better sperm quality, a key factor
in the process of conception.

proXeed™ is a citrus-flavored, powder supplement that can

be dissolved in water, or other beverages, and taken twice a
day. Since sperm require an average of 2.5 months to
mature, and up to 30 additional days to become capable of fer- SPERM QUALITY
tilization, proXeed™ should be taken for at least 2.5 months to OVER TIME
see initial improvement in sperm quality, and at least six It takes about 74 days
months for optimum results. for sperm to mature.
However, an estimated
proXeed™ is safe so you can take it with confidence. 20 to 30 additional
Manufactured by sigma-tau, an internationally recognized phar- days are required for
maceutical company, proXeed™’s ingredients have been the sub- mature sperm to be
ject of over 30 years of study and have been safely used by mil- capable of fertilization.
lions in Europe. proXeed™ has no known side effects, con-
traindications, or drug interactions and will not increase your
chances of multiple pregnancy. As with all supplements, consult
your physician before use if you are taking any medications.

To order proXeed™, visit our website at www.proxeed.com

or call toll free 1-877-PROXEED (776-9333). For any other
questions about proXeed™, e-mail us at info@sigmatau.com
or call toll free 1-888-818-5448.

When it comes to getting pregnant, a healthy diet, proper exer-

cise and a reduction of stress for both partners may help. But
because sperm quality plays such an integral role in a couple’s
ability to conceive, any man concerned about his reproductive
health should consider proXeed™.

Promotes optimum sperm quality

Resources
You may have other important questions about
conception you want to ask, but don’t know where
to turn for answers. Here are some of the resources
available to you:
n RESOLVE, Inc.
1310 Broadway
Somerville, MA 02144-1731
(617) 623-1156
Internet: www.resolve.org

n Atlanta Reproductive Health Centre

285 Boulevard NE, Suite 320
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 265-3662
Internet: www.ivf.com

n The InterNational Council

on Infertility Information Dissemination,
Inc. (INCIID)
P.O. Box 6836
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 379-9178
Internet: www.inciid.org

n OBGYN.net - The Universe

of Women’s Health
5707 Lakemoore Drive
Austin, TX 78731-1730
(512) 231-0810
Internet: www.obgyn.net

n The American Society

for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
1209 Montgomery Highway
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 978-5000
Internet: www.asrm.org

n The American College

of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG)
409 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20024-2188
Internet: www.acog.org

Con cept, copy an d design by Tim K en n ey Design Partn ers

PXD-CBR-2
proXeed™ is manufactured for
sigma-tau Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877.
Product of Italy. proXeed™ is a trademark of sigma-tau
Healthscience S.p.A.. Patent pending.
©1998. All rights reserved.